Salt grainer



Jan. 17, 1928.

R. G PETERS If. G. Peierzs. BY M.

Jan. 17, 1928. r

R. G. PETERS 1,656,827

SALT GRAINER Filed Nov. 50 M326 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 1 Z4 25 4 1 VI/A I mm J4 if i N VE H TOR R. 621 8181145. BY "z ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1928.

R. G. PETERS SALT GRAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 30, 192.6

INVENTOR 1?. GiPeiem BY W.

TTORNEY Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES assess; PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD G. PETERS, OF MAN ISTEE, MICHIGAN; JAMES R. PETERS ADMINISTRATOR SAID RICHARD G. PETERS, DECEASED.

SALT GRAINER.

Application filed November 30, 1926. Serial No. 151,747.

My invention relates to structures including a hood or cover therefor.

A large percentage of salt is made in the United States in open vats, the vats being constructed of wood, steel, concrete or other material, and in practice about 20 inches deep and from 12 to 18 feet wide and from 100 to 150 feet long. Usually four-inch steam pipes are used which are suspended somewhat above the bottom of the vat and disposed longitudinally with the vat. Live steam passes through the pipes for the purpose of heating the brine, the brine being about 18 inches deep in the vat. The vapor at the top of the brine is just as hot as the brine is and the heat of the vapor is wasted by the ordinary methods.

The general object of my invention is to provide a hood on the salt vat adapted for the purpose of increasing the production of salt by utilizing heat now being wasted.

The nature of my invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will clearly appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the draw ings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a salt grainer embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is 'a sectional plan view, the section being taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In carrying out my invention in practice the salt vat, which is shown at 10, may be of any approved form, the invention residin in the hood. The vat is here shown as having the usual steam pipes 11. The hood which my invention provides for the vat is in the preferred form made with side sections 15, here shown as having vertically de pendent drip boards 16 at the lower edges adapted to overlap opposite sides 13 of the vat 10. Side sections 15 are suitably pivoted at approximate centers. In the illustrated form use is made of transverse strips 17 approximately central, the ends of the strips 17 having trunnions 18 suitably supported by overhead members.

In the illustrated form the framework includes hangers 19 suspended from crossmembers 22 of the overhead framework or trussavork. Said hangers are strengthened by oblique side braces 21 and oblique end braces 20.

Depending from the overhead framework or truss-work are vertical strips H disposed at the ends of the cover of the hood, to which strips 1st end closure elements are secured. In the preferred form of the invention the end closures consist of closure sections 28 secured by hinges 2a to the strips 14 or equivalent supporting means. Wings 25 are provided on the outer ends of the closure sections 23 and secured by hinges :26 to said closure sections 23. The arrangement permits the sections being swung on the hinges 2st, 26 as shown in Figure 2, to throw open the ends of the hood.

Covering sections 15 are formed with double walls between which are cleats 115 forming an air space between the upper and lower coverings of said sections 15.

lVith the described construction vapors generated beneath the cover when the salt grainer is in operation condense on the under side walls of the side sections 15 and the water of condensation runs to and drips from the drip boards 16. The sections 15 are balanced, or approximately balanced on their pivots 18 and retain any given angular positions. When the cover is in place over the vat the vapors are confined beneath the hood until the brine absorbs the valuable heat of the vapor instead of the heat being wasted, as is incidental to the usual methods.

I would state furthermore that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a vat of ahood composed of movable top members disposed at the sides of the hood movable end closures for said hood, and fixed frame members supporting said closures independently of said movable top members.

2. A hood for vats including top members mounted to swing in a vertical plane to occupy a position over the vat or raised above the same and movable end closures for the hood.

3. A hood for vats including top memv10 5. In a structure of theclass described '7 adapted for use as a hood over vats, vertically movable top sections adapted to be disposed over a vat, means to support said sections, upright members at the ends of said structure and end closures secured to said upright members and movable to closed or (open positions independently of the top sections.

Rronasn e. PETERS 

